Personalized bag

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure describes products and methods for customizing carrying bags that allows users to express their individuality. The products and methods provide for users to periodically modify and update their carrying bag by easily attaching, moving, removing, or adding one or more patches or pieces of art. The products and methods include constructing sections of a carrying bag of hook-and-loop material and constructing patches or other pieces of art from corresponding hook-and-loop material to facilitate securing such patches to the carrying bag. Once secured, the patches can be easily removed from the bag, moved to a different section of the bag, or other patches can be added to change the customization and personalization over time.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to pending U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 63/2374,728, titled “Personalized Bag,” filed on Nov. 2,2021, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to carrying bags useful toindividuals in transporting and storing items in the course of theirdaily lives. More specifically, the present disclosure relates tocarrying bags that can be personalized and customized to meet anindividual's unique preferences and interests.

BACKGROUND

In our modern society, we appreciate and welcome individuality overconformity. One manner in which people can express such individualityand set themselves apart from the crowd is in the style and manner ofapparel worn by the individual. It is common for people to tailor theirclothing and accessories to specific circumstances. For example, whenattending a sporting event, a team jersey or other team themed apparelmay be appropriate, where individuals can differentiate themselvesthrough use of accessories such as buttons, hats, and the like. Whenattending a formal event, dressier apparel may be more appropriate,where individuals can distinguish themselves though a choice of tie,scarf, jewelry, and the like.

However, unlike clothing and accessories, where individuals have thechoice of a wide variety of items and style choices, there are certainpersonal items that offer very limited variety. For example, forcarrying bags such as book bags, totes, satchels, and the like, mostindividuals own only a single or small number of such item. It is oftenthe case that a student owns only one backpack used to transport booksto and from class. Thus, such items do not offer the variability oropportunity or easily personalize and customize the bag as is commonwith clothing. While it is possible to personalize and customizecarrying bags, such personalization and customization are typicallypermanent and not alterable over time or damage the underlying bag. Forexample, people do personalize backpacks using permanent methods likeapplying iron-on patches or sewing such patches directly to the bookbag.Additional customizations include using pins, rivets, or snaps to attachpatches to bookbags. However, such methods either pose a danger to theuser of the backpack or cause damage to the backpack.

Therefore, there is a need for methods and products that provide an easyand safe way to periodically personalize and customize carrying bagsbased on the preferences and wishes of the user. Disclosed herein arenovel methods of quickly and repeatedly personalizing and customizing acarrying bag.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure describes products and methods for customizingcarrying bags that allows users to express their individuality. Theproducts and methods provide for users to periodically modify and updatetheir carrying bag by easily attaching, moving, removing, or adding oneor more patches or pieces of art. The products and methods includeconstructing sections of a carrying bag of hook-and-loop material andconstructing patches or other pieces of art from correspondinghook-and-loop material to facilitate securing such patches to thecarrying bag. Once secured, the patches can be easily removed from thebag, moved to a different section of the bag, or other patches can beadded to change the customization and personalization over time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, structures are illustrated that, togetherwith the detailed description provided below, describe exampleembodiments of the disclosed systems, methods, and apparatus. Whereappropriate, like elements are identified with the same or similarreference numerals. Elements shown as a single component can be replacedwith multiple components. Elements shown as multiple components can bereplaced with a single component. The drawings may not be to scale. Theproportion of certain elements may be exaggerated for the purpose ofillustration.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a front view of an exemplary backpackarranged to be selectively personalized and customized based on thepreferences of the user.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a rear view of the backpack of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a side view of the backpack of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates another side view of the backpack ofFIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a side view of the backpack of FIG. 1with a water bottle located in the water bottle holder.

FIG. 6 is a photograph of the backpack of FIG. 1 customized with variouspatches reversibly attached to front panels of the backpack.

FIG. 7 is a photograph of the backpack of FIG. 1 customized with variousother patches reversibly attached to front panels of the backpack.

FIG. 8 is a photograph of a backpack of FIG. 1 customized with variouspatches reversibly attached to the carrying straps of the backpack.

FIG. 9 is a photograph of a backpack of FIG. 1 customized with variouspatches reversibly attached to the carrying straps of the backpack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The apparatus, systems, arrangements, and methods disclosed in thisdocument are described in detail by way of examples and with referenceto the figures. It will be appreciated that modifications to disclosedand described examples, arrangements, configurations, components,elements, apparatus, methods, materials, etc. can be made and may bedesired for a specific application. In this disclosure, anyidentification of specific techniques, arrangements, method, etc. areeither related to a specific example presented or are merely a generaldescription of such a technique, arrangement, method, etc.Identifications of specific details or examples are not intended to beand should not be construed as mandatory or limiting unless specificallydesignated as such. Selected examples carrying bags arranged to berepeatedly personalized and customized based on the preferences of theuser are hereinafter disclosed and described in detail with referencemade to FIGS. 1-9 .

Disclosed herein are carrying bags arranged to facilitate selectivelyadding, removing, moving, and rearranging patches or other pieces of artto the carrying bag based on the preferences of the user. The term“carrying bag” is used herein as a general term that refers to manytypes of bags including, but not limited to, backpacks, bookbags,pouches, purses, handbags, totes, luggage, garment bags, lunch bags,phone bags, satchels, wristlets, clutches, make-up bags, and the like.Furthermore, while a backpack will be generally used to describe andillustrate the invention, it will be understood that such descriptions,arrangements, methods, and techniques described herein as used with abackpack are equally applicable to any type of carrying bag.

FIGS. 1-4 schematically illustrate an exemplary backpack 100. The frontside of the backpack 100 includes a pair of front panels—an upper panel110 and a lower panel 120—that are bisected by a front pouch zipper 130and a pair of material strips, 140, 150. The front pouch zipper 130providers access to an internal pouch arranged to store small items suchas pencils, calculator, phone, or the like. The back side of thebackpack 100 includes a back panel 160, a pass through panel 170, and apair of adjustable carrying straps 180, 190. As best illustrated in theside view of the backpack 100, FIGS. 3 and 4 , the backpack 100 furtherincludes a main compartment zipper 200 and a water bottle holder 210.The main compartment zipper 200 providers access to the main compartmentof the backpack 100, which occupies the vast majority of the internalspace of the backpack 100 and is arranged to story larger items such asbooks. As is illustrated in FIG. 5 , the water bottle holder 210 is astrip of material secured to the side of the backpack arranged toaccommodate a water bottle 220. The water bottle holder 210 can includean elastic band sewn along its top edge to better secure a water bottle.Additionally, the backpack 100 includes a loop 230 extended from the topof the backpack 100 by which the backpack can be hung-up on a hook orother such device.

Certain of the surfaces of the bookbag 100 are arranged to facilitatereversibly securing a patch or other such piece of art to the backpack.In one example, portions of the backpack 100 are constructed frommaterials typically referred to as “hook-and-loop” system. Ahook-and-loop system includes two separate sections of correspondingfabric or other such material. One section of material includes hooksthat extend from the surface of the material. The other section ofmaterial includes loops extending from the surface of the material. Oncethese two materials are pressed together, the loops capture the hooks toreversible secure the two sections of material together. The materialscan be separated by applying a force to one of the materials.

In one example, on the front of the backpack 100, the upper panel 110and lower panel 120 can be constructed from loop fabric of ahook-and-loop system. The back panel 160 can also be constructed fromloop fabric. In such an arrangement, patches or other pieces of artworkare fabricated on a substrate made of the corresponding hook fabric of ahook-and-loop system. In such an arrangement, the patch can be securedto the upper panel 110, lower panel 120, or the back panel 160 of thebackpack 100. As will be appreciated, when the user would like toattach, remove, move, or rearrange the patch or attach a different patchto the backpack, the user can remove the existing patch by simplypulling the patch off the backpack 100 using appropriate force andrearranging the patch or replacing the patch with a new patch.

In another example, the adjustable carrying straps 180, 190 of thebackpack 100 can be at least partially constructed from loop fabric of ahook-and-loop system. In such an arrangement, patches or other pieces ofartwork are fabricated on a substrate made of the corresponding hookfabric of a hook-and-loop system. In such an arrangement, the patch canbe secured to the adjustable carrying straps 180, 190 of the backpack100. As will be appreciated, when the user would like to attach, remove,move, or rearrange the patch or attach a different patch to theadjustable carrying straps 180, 190 of the backpack 100, the user canremove the existing patch by simply pulling the patch off the adjustablecarrying straps 180, 190 using appropriate force and rearranging thepatch or replacing the patch with a new patch.

As is illustrated in FIG. 6 , a backpack 100 can be adorned withmultiple patches 240. In this example, the upper panel includes theletter “B” and a number of flower patches. The lower panel includes anadditional flower patch and a pair of smiling face patches. Thus,through such an arrangement, the owner of the backpack 100 has expressedhis or her upbeat personality while displaying an identifying initial,representing their first name. If the owner tires of the currentpatches, the owner can remove one or more of the patches and replacethem with new patches to create a different theme for the backpack.Similarly, FIG. 7 illustrates a backpack adorned with the letter “S”240, a pair of stars 240, and several pirate themed patches 240 thatexpress the owner's love of that genre. As with the backpack 100 in FIG.6 , the owner can remove and exchange patches based on the owner'sevolving preferences and interests.

Similar to the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 , FIGS. 8 and 9illustrate patches attached to the adjustable carrying straps of thebook bag 100. As illustrated in FIG. 8 , the user has applied a smileyface and letters spelling out the user's nickname, “GUS.” The user hasalso attached patches depicting skateboards to show interest in thishobby. As illustrated in FIG. 9 , the user has chosen to apply severalstar and heart patches.

While the examples discussed herein note that the backpack isconstructed with sections of loop material and patches 240 arefabricated using hook material as a substrate, it will be understoodthat the bookbag 100 can be constructed with hook material and thepatches 240 with loop material as a substrate to achieve the sameresults as discussed herein. The materials utilized can includeindustrial-strength hook-and-loop fabric to create a durable andreliable product. One type of hook-and-loop fabric that is applicable tothe products and methods described herein is marketed and sold under thebrand name Velcro®. In another embodiment, the material used toconstruct the upper panel 110, lower panel 120, and back panel 160 is aheavy brushed polymer material, which is similar to material commonlyused as upholstery for furniture. Specifically, the heavy brushedpolymer material can be blend of polyester and another material such asspandex, lycra, or elastane. Typically the blend includes 90 percent ormore polyester. Other sections of the backpack 100 can be constructedfrom upholstery grade velvet that is approximately 300 grams per squaremeter (GSM). For example, the pair of material strips 140, 150 on thefront of the backpack 100 and the pass through panel 170 on the back ofthe backpack can be constructed from such 300 GSM velvet.

The hook-and-loop securing method creates a strong and unique yetmovable mechanism for attaching patches and pieces of art to a backpackor other carrying bags. Such a securing method maintains the attachmentof the patch to the backpack under demanding situations such as a childrunning for a bus with backpack on or moving through a crowd where thebackpack is often bumped and jostled. But allows owners to easily removethe patches as desired.

As will be appreciated, the products and methods described herein allowusers to continually modify and update their carrying bag by easilyattaching, moving, removing, rearranging, or adding one or more patchesor pieces of art. Additionally, it allows users to easily tradeindividual patches or pieces of art amongst each other. In one example,it can be appealing for children to exchange patches with classmates andfriends to update their school backpacks. By allowing the user to easilyupdate and modify their product, significant value is added to theproduct.

The foregoing description of examples has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive orlimiting to the forms described. Numerous modifications are possible inlight of the above teachings. Some of those modifications have beendiscussed, and others will be understood by those skilled in the art.The examples were chosen and described in order to best illustrateprinciples of various examples as are suited to particular usescontemplated. The scope is, of course, not limited to the examples setforth herein, but can be employed in any number of applications andequivalent devices by those of ordinary skill in the art.

We claim:
 1. A system for customizing a carrying bag, comprising: acarrying bag, wherein at least one section of the carrying bag isconstructed from hook-and-loop material; and one or more patches whereeach patch includes a substrate constructed from hook-and-loop material.2. The system of claims 1, wherein the carrying bag is construed fromloop material and the substrate of the patches is constructed from hookmaterial.
 3. The system of claims 1, wherein the carrying bag isconstrued from hook material and the substrate of the patches isconstructed from loop material.
 4. The system of claims 1, wherein afront panel of the carrying bag is at least partially constructed fromhook-and-loop material.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the frontpanel includes an upper panel and a lower panel.
 6. The system of claim5, wherein the upper panel and lower panel are constructed from ahook-and-loop material.
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein a back panel ofthe carry bag is constructed from hook-and-loop material.
 8. The systemof claim 1 wherein a back panel of the carry bag is constructed fromhook-and-loop material.
 9. The system of claims 1, wherein thehook-and-loop material is a heavy brushed polymer material.
 10. Thesystem of claim 9, wherein the heavy brushed polymer material is a blendof polyester and one of spandex, lycra, or elastane.
 11. The system ofclaim 10, wherein the ratio of the blend is ninety percent or morepolyester to ten percent or less of spandex, lycra, or elastane.